St. Mary’s College of Maryland allows opposite-sex housing [public college]

Washington Post ^ | 11/10/2013 | Samantha Hogan

[markomalley]

Students at St. Mary’s College of Maryland no longer have to consider gender when selecting a roommate under a new open-housing policy that allows students of the opposite sex to live together in the same room.

The open-housing policy was designed to provide better housing arrangements for students who do not identify with their birth sex or are uncomfortable living with students of the same gender, said Joanne Goldwater, director of residence life and associate dean of students.

The policy “is going to ensure that our students have a safe space to live,” Goldwater said.

Students at the public liberal arts school in Southern Maryland must opt into the program, and students will not be randomly assigned an opposite-sex roommate without their consent. The school has about 1,800 students for the fall 2013 semester.

There are currently 18 students living on the college’s open-housing floor in Prince George Hall, but only two students of the opposite sex are living together, Goldwater said.

[GreyFriar]

Ah, the other St. Mary’s in Maryland: the public liberal arts school in Southern Maryland

[GeronL]

notice this happens when tuition comes from loans instead of parents

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Hard to believe it was only 44 years ago I rushed to get Debbie back to the girls dorm before they shut the doors at 11 PM.

[Venturer]

As a resident of St. Mary’s County I can assure all that we , the majority ,of citizens do not agree with this policy.

St Mary’s College is known as a party college. I would rather it were known for it’s level of education, but we citizens do not have a say in what they do there.

[Elsiejay]

Is not this style pretty much normative in universities and colleges across America?

[rabidralph]

Hannah Felperin, 20, a philosophy major with a minor in women, gender and sexuality studies, is the only woman in Prince George Hall currently living with a male student. The pair live in a traditional dorm room with two beds.

I never would have guessed.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Hannah Felperin, 20, a philosophy major with a minor in women, gender and sexuality studies, is the only woman in Prince George Hall currently living with a male student. "I firmly believe in gender neutrality and not needing to separate by physical sex,” Felperin said.

Mom and Dad must be proud.

[rabidralph]

You guys have a pretty good sailing team.

[Publius]

I’d like to see the job she’s going to get with that degree.

[ConservativeInPA]

Note to self ... never hire anyone that went to St. Mary’s.

[rabidralph]

These are the folks who have time to protest during the work day. They also end up on the payroll of DNC umbrella organizations like Planned Parenthood, NARAL, Emily’s List, etc.

[rabidralph]

Still, there's plenty of work out there.

[OpusatFR]

St. Mary’s has always been ahead of the cultural curse. I meant curve.

The things I could tell. Like meeting my middie on their grounds at night.

Oh well. Long, long ago in another lifetime.

[FerociousRabbit]

They are only “authorizing” what has gone on at St. Mary’s College since at least the 80’s.

Academics are not why anyone actually attends this school. It is definitely a beer, bongs and broads kind of place.

[Jeff Chandler]

I’d like to see the job she’s going to get with that degree.

Government work.

[Venturer]

Yes: They do.

And a beautiful body of water to practice on, The St. Mary’s River.

[Red in Blue PA]

I am sure this will not lead to any issues down the road/heavy sarc

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Maryland “Freak State” PING!

[napscoordinator]

I am torn by this. They are 18. It is bad enough we are beginning to treat them as children to age 27 with medical insurance and smoking 21. If they weren’t in college, they could easily get an apartment together anyway. I am in Annapolis.